Earth Girl (Earth Girl #1) by Janet Edwards

Earth Girl (Earth Girl #1) by Janet Edwards
Publisher: Pyr
Publish Date: March 12, 2013
Pages: 358
ISBN#978-0007443499


I received this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.



 Jarra is a human girl born with an immune system that doesn't allow her to portal to other worlds, like 'normal' people.  People born like Jarra are called apes, neans and handicapped.  They're looked down on and pitied.

I have to say that I absolutely adore the cover.  It shows Jarra chained to Earth, which is what she is.  She can't leave like most people, even if she wants to.  She looks like she loves Earth, but is longing for something.  Great cover!

Parents that end up having ape children have two choices - move to Earth with them or dump them at an Earth hospital and have them become wards.  Jarra was dumped, as are most kids.

She's fascinated with history and has been going on digs on Earth since she was eleven years old.  Now she's 18 and wants to be accepted at a college on another world.  She can't leave Earth, but it's ok, she can do the pre-history major, which involves digs on Earth.  She plans on fooling the rest of the students, then telling them she's an ape and telling them off for being rude.  She has quite the plan. 

However, her plan doesn't quite go that way.  The characters show their youth and immaturity at times, but also show that they have some intelligence. They're all fleshed out and come off quite well.

Jarra has some incredible things happen to her and about halfway through something happens that made me flip back and forth wondering if I'd missed anything.  Great twist!! 

I love all the science about the portals and the digs, really interesting!

Books Out Week of April 29 - May 5, 2013

April 30th

Life After Theft by Aprilynne Pike
Publisher:  HarperTeen

From Goodreads:  Moving to a new high school sucks. Especially a rich-kid private school. With uniforms. But nothing is worse than finding out the first girl you meet is dead. And a klepto.

No one can see or hear Kimberlee except Jeff, so--in hopes of bringing an end to the snarkiest haunting in history--he agrees to help her complete her "unfinished business." But when the enmity between Kimberlee and Jeff's new crush, Sera, manages to continue posthumously, Jeff wonders if he's made the right choice.

 The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray

From Goodreads:  In The Boyfriend App by Katie Sise, super-smart, somewhat geeky Audrey McCarthy can’t wait to get out of high school. Her father’s death and the transformation of her one-time BFF, Blake Dawkins, into her worst nightmare have her longing for the new start college will bring.

But college takes money. So Audrey decides she has to win the competition for the best app designed...

  The Loop by Shandy Lawson
Publisher:  Hyperion

From Goodreads:  Ben and Maggie have met, fallen in love, and died together countless times. Over the course of two pivotal days—both the best and worst of their lives—they struggle again and again to resist the pull of fate and the force of time itself. With each failure, they return to the beginning of their end, a wild road trip that brings them to the scene of their own murders and into the hands of the man destined to kill them.

As time circles back on itself, events become more deeply ingrained, more inescapable for the two kids trapped inside the loop. The closer they come to breaking out, the tighter fate’s clutches seem to grip them. They devise a desperate plan to break free and survive the days ahead, but what if Ben and Maggie’s only shot at not dying is surviving apart? 

 Absent by Katie Williams
Publisher:  Chronicle Books

From Goodreads:  Forever is a long time to be stuck in high school.

Seventeen-year-old Paige is dead, the victim of a freak fall from
the roof during Physics class. Now she’s a ghost, permanently
bound to the grounds of her high school. It isn’t all bad, she can
find out everyone’s secrets, which can be amusing—for a while.
But then Paige hears something that isn’t amusing at all: the
rumor spread by the most popular girl at school that her death
wasn’t an accident—that she supposedly jumped on purpose.  Paige is desperate to stop the gossip, but what can a ghost do?  Then Paige discovers something amazing. She can possess living people when they think of her, and she can make them do almost anything. Maybe, just maybe, she can get inside the girl who’s responsible for the stories. . . and have a little fun turning the tables while she’s at it. 

The Ward by Jordana Frankel
Publisher:  Katherine Tegel Books

From Goodreads:  Sixteen-year-old Ren is a daredevil mobile racer who will risk everything to survive in the Ward, what remains of a water-logged Manhattan. To save her sister, who is suffering from a deadly illness thought to be caused by years of pollution, Ren accepts a secret mission from the government: to search for a freshwater source in the Ward, with the hope of it leading to a cure.

However, she never expects that her search will lead to dangerous encounters with a passionate young scientist; a web of deceit and lies; and an earth-shattering mystery that’s lurking deep beneath the water’s rippling surface.

 Anthem for Jackson Dawes by Celia Bryce
Publisher:  Bloomsbury USA Childrens

From Goodreads:  Megan Bright and Jackson Dawes are two teenagers who first meet each other on the hospital ward where they are both being treated for cancer. Megan is scared and worried about her illness, but Jackson seems to be an old hand, having been on the ward for ages. And everybody loves Jackson! He is a whirlwind of life and energy, warmth and sparkle. Megan will need to borrow some of Jackson's extraordinary optimism to face her and Jackson's future.

The Program (The Program #1) by Suzanne Young
Publisher:   Simon Pulse

From Goodreads:  Sloane knows better than to cry in front of anyone. With suicide now an international epidemic, one outburst could land her in The Program, the only proven course of treatment. Sloane’s parents have already lost one child; Sloane knows they’ll do anything to keep her alive. She also knows that everyone who’s been through The Program returns as a blank slate. Because their depression is gone—but so are their memories.

Under constant surveillance at home and at school, Sloane puts on a brave face and keeps her feelings buried as deep as she can. The only person Sloane can be herself with is James. He’s promised to keep them both safe and out of treatment, and Sloane knows their love is strong enough to withstand anything. But despite the promises they made to each other, it’s getting harder to hide the truth. They are both growing weaker. Depression is setting in. And The Program is coming for them.

Rumor Central by ReShonda Tate Billingsley
Publisher:  Kensington

From Goodreads:   The teen reality show "Miami Divas" made media sensations out of Miami's richest in-crowd and Maya Morgan is one of them. Now Maya's been offered her very own show, and she'll do whatever it takes to step up the fame she's worked so hard for and that includes spilling some secrets her friends wish were left buried. But as Maya gives up the goods for the sake of ratings, someone will do anything to shut her up. Between

backstabbing lies and hard truths, this gossip girl has only one chance to make things right before it's too late.


May 1st

 Gorgeous by Paul Rudnick
Publisher:  Scholastic Press

From Goodreads:  hen eighteen-year-old Becky Randle’s mother dies, she’s summoned from her Missouri trailer park to meet Tom Kelly, the world’s top designer. He makes her an impossible offer: He’ll create three dresses to transform Becky from a nothing special girl into the most beautiful woman who ever lived.

Becky thinks Tom is a lunatic, or that he’s producing a hidden camera show called World’s Most Gullible Poor People. But she accepts, and she’s remade as Rebecca. When Becky looks in the mirror, she sees herself – an awkward mess of split ends and cankles. But when anyone else looks at Becky, they see pure five-alarm hotness.

Soon Rebecca is on the cover of Vogue, the new Hollywood darling, and dating celebrities. Then Becky meets Prince Gregory, heir to the British throne, and everything starts to crumble. Because Rebecca aside, Becky loves him. But to love her back, Gregory would have to look past the blinding Rebecca to see the real girl inside. And Becky knows there’s not enough magic in the world.

The Last Academy by Anne Applegate
Publisher:  Point

From Goodreads:  Camden Fisher arrives at boarding school haunted by a falling-out with her best friend back home. But the manicured grounds of Lethe Academy are like nothing Cam has ever known. There are gorgeous, preppy boys wielding tennis rackets, and circles of girls with secrets to spare. Only . . . something is not quite right. One of Cam's new friends mysteriously disappears, but the teachers don't seem too concerned. Cam wakes up to strangers in her room, who then melt into the night. She is suddenly plagued by odd memories, and senses there might be something dark and terrible brewing. But what?

Defriended by Ruth Baron
Publisher:  Scholastic

From Goodreads:  A friend request from beyond the grave . . .

Jason has met the perfect girl. OK, so maybe he hasn't actually MET Lacey yet, but they talk online all the time. Yet despite spending most nights chatting, Lacey refuses to meet up in person. Suspicious, Jason starts googling, and his cyberstalking leads to a shocking discovery: According to multiple newspapers, Lacey died a year earlier.

Soon, Jason finds himself enmeshed in a disturbing mystery. Has he found a way to iChat with the dead? Or is someone playing a dangerous trick? Either way, Jason has to discover the truth before it's too late. You can't put up away messages from beyond the grave. . . .

Identity Theft by Anna Dawes
Publisher:  Point

From Goodreads:  Hayley is going to have the best year ever. After years of careful planning, she's ready to serve as student council president AND editor-in-chief of the newspaper. Ivy League, here she comes!

However, just before student council elections, someone creates a fake facebook profile for Hayley and starts posting inappropriate photos and incriminating updates. It must be the work of a highly skilled Photoshopper, but the attention to detail is scary. The embarrassing photos of "Hayley" in her bathing suit reveal a birthmark on her back--a birth mark Hayley has never shown in public. . . .

The situation escalates until Hayley's mother reveals some shocking information. Hayley isn't an only child: She has a twin sister who was adopted by a different family. And that's not all. Soon, Hayley discovers that her long-lost sister isn't just playing a prank--she's plotting to take over Hayley's life . . . by any means necessary.

  How I Lost You by Janet Gurtler
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire

From Goodreads:  There are a few things Grace Anderson knows for sure. One is that nothing will ever come between her and her best friend, Kya Kessler. They have a pact. Buds Before Studs. Sisters Before Misters. But in the summer before senior year, life throws out challenges they never expected. And suddenly the person who's always been there starts to need the favor returned. Grace and Kya are forced to question how much a best friend can forgive. And the answer is not what they expected.

 if he had been with me by Laura Nowlin
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire

Goodreads:  Throughout their whole childhood, Finn and Autumn were inseparable—they finished each other's sentences, they knew just what to say when the other person was hurting. But one incident in middle school puts them in separate social worlds come high school, and Autumn has been happily dating James for the last 2 years. But she's always wondered what if...

The night she's about to get the answer is also one of terrible tragedy. 


May 2nd

 Our Song by Jordanna Fraiberg
Publisher:  Razorbill

From Goodreads:  Olive Bell has spent her entire life in the beautiful suburb of Vista Valley, with a picture-perfect home, a loving family, and a seemingly perfect boyfriend. But after a near-fatal car accident, she’s haunted by a broken heart and a melody that she cannot place.

Then Olive meets Nick. He’s dark, handsome, mysterious . . . and Olive feels connected to him in a way she can’t explain. Is there such a thing as fate? The two embark on a whirlwind romance—until Nick makes a troubling confession.

Heartbroken, Olive pieces together what really happened the night of her accident and arrives at a startling revelation. Only by facing the truth can she uncover the mystery behind the song and the power of what it means to love someone. 

          

Unbroken (Ruined #2) by Paula Morris

Unbroken (Ruined #2) by Paula Morris
Publisher: Scholasstic Inc.
Publish Date:  February 1, 2013
Pages: 304
ISBN# 978-0545416412


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



Rebecca Brown and her friend Ling travel from NYC to New Orleans for spring break.  Rebecca's dad is going there for business and thought the girls would like to tag along.  Rebecca lived in New Orleans for awhile and is walking back into prejudice and trouble. But she's trying to help a ghost (Frank) with a locket problem.

Unfortunately, other ghosts have been keeping Frank from taking care of business and are happy to keep Rebecca from it too.

Ling is fun and practical, she's excellent with Rebecca and makes you feel like she's ready for action.  Anton doesn't come off very well in this book.  I kept wishing Rebecca would ditch him quickly, he's a jerk.

The story does get a little boring with all the cleaning up.  I know that New Orleans is still a mess, but less description of cleaning up and more action would have helped a lot.  The last one-third to one-half made the story worth reading though, so don't despair!

Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn

Dr. Frankenstein's Daughters by Suzanne Weyn
Publisher: Scholastic Press
Publish Date:  January 1, 2013
Pages: 250
ISBN#978-0545425339


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



Victor Frankenstein had twin daughters and he abandoned them at birth to keep the monster from finding and killing them.  Their mother died delivering them.  They've been raised in Germany by their grandfather.  Upon their father's death, they are notified and leave Germany, against their grandfather's wishes, to travel with their uncle to Orkney Isle to take their titles as Barness and to live in their castle.

Ingrid is really interested in what their father was doing, she's all about the science.  She becomes friends with a recluse on the isle and tries to help him using her father's diaries.

Giselle is more girly and is set on renovating the castle and taking her place in society as a Baroness.

The story is told through the girls diairies and their father's diaries.  The story is definitely slow, but it's worth reading, it gets better as it goes along.  Although I wasn't thrilled with the ending, I understand why it went that way.

The Nightmare Affair (Arkwell Academy #1) by Mindee Arnett

The Nightmare Affair (Arkwell Academy #1) by Mindee Arnett
Publisher: TorTeen
Publish Date:  March 5, 2013
Pages: 367
ISBN# 978-0765333339

I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.




Dusty is 16 years old and is regularly breaking into houses. She is stealing, but not because she's a criminal.  She's a Nightmare.  Nightmares are magical creatures and they feed on the stuff of dreams - fictus.

Dusty attends Arkwell Academy, a school for magickind.  She's a half-breed, her dad is human. So she's not really good at magic, but everyone thinks she should be.  See, her mom is amazing.  She's a Nightmare and was a true nightmare for the school.  She could do things that she shouldn't be able to do.  She's been in and out of Dusty's life, so Dusty isn't too excited when her mom shows up at her school...as a teacher!

When a murder is committed at Arkwell, Dusty is paired with a human, Eli, to see if they can solve the crime, using dreams.  Eli is a hot guy from her old school and neither one seems happy about having to work together.  Eli much less, as he was yanked from his human school to attend here where he doesn't fit in. 

Dusty is young, it's easy to see that in her character.  It's refreshing to see that she's easily led at times, makes her seem more real. But she's also feisty and fun.

Eli is trying to make the best of a bad situation. He thinks like a cop (his career choice) and dates a siren, who hates Dusty.

Paul is a half-breed, seems to have a bad family situation and is attentive to Dusty.

Selene is Dusty's bff, she's a siren who wants people to see Sirens as more than sexy.  I'd really like to see more of Selene.

The story started off really well, lots of intrigue.  By the second half, it seemed like we were in a huge hurry to get to the ending.  Other than that, the story was great!

Tides of Avarice (A Sagaria Legend) by John Dahlgren

The Tides of Avarice (A Sagaria Legend) by John Dahlgren
Publisher: Editions Didier Millet
Publish Date: June 16, 2011
Pages:  463
ISBN# 978-9814260534


I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.



Pirates and Lemmings?! It makes for an interesting read!

Sylvester is the main character, he's a Lemming.  He's a translator in the library archives.  Very shy, quiet, soft spoken; but he yearns for excitement and adventure!

Viola is the girl (lemmingness?) that Sylvester dotes on. She's fast, pretty, athletic and loves adventures.  She also seems very fond of Sylvester.

Sylvester's father was part of a Lemming Exodus years ago.  Every so often, lemmings are chosen to go on an Exodus, it's to go find new things, but so far none have returned.

Once a pirate stumbles into the quiet little town of Foxglove, nothing can ever be the same for Sylvester again.  He ends up with a coveted pirate treasure map and suddenly everyone is after him.

This was a delightful story!  I enjoyed it and I think that younger readers would enjoy it also.  For younger readers, it's a great story and easy to picture. For older readers, I think they'll enjoy the undercurrents of emotion and things not quite said.

Books Out This Week: April 22 - 28, 2013

April 23rd

Darius & Twig by Walter Dean Myers
Publisher:  Amistad Press


From Goodreads:  Darius is a writer struggling to find his own way, with only his alter ego, Fury, a peregrine falcon, and Twig, his best friend, in his corner. Twig, a middle-distance runner, has the skills to make it but wants to dictate his own terms for success. He may be a winner on the track, but it doesn't stop him from getting picked on. For these friends, money is tight; there are bullies and absent adults and, most disturbing, the notion that their Harlem life doesn't have much to offer. They need to navigate their world: the thugs, the seamy side of sports, the uncertainty of their prospects. And they need to figure out how to grow up together, but apart.

How Zoe Made Her Dreams (mostly) Come True by Sarah Strohmeyer
Publisher: Balzer & Bray/HarperTeen

From Goodreads:  When cousins Zoe and Jess land summer internships at the Fairyland Kingdom theme park, they are sure they've hit the jackpot. With perks like hot Abercrombie-like Prince Charmings and a chance to win the coveted $25,000 Dream & Do grant, what more could a girl want?

Once Zoe arrives, however, she's assigned to serve "The Queen"-Fairyland's boss from hell. From spoon-feeding her evil lapdog caviar, to fetching midnight sleeping tonics, Zoe fears she might not have what it takes to survive the summer, much less win the money.

Soon backstabbing interns, a runaway Cinderella, and cutthroat competition make Zoe's job more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. What will happen when Zoe is forced to choose between serving The Queen and saving the prince of her dreams?

Quintana of Charyn (Lumatere Chronicles #3) by Melina Marchetta
Publisher:  Viking Australia

From Goodreads:  There's a babe in my belly that whispers the valley, Froi. I follow the whispers and come to the road . . .

Separated from the girl he loves and has sworn to protect, Froi must travel through Charyn to search for Quintana, the mother of Charyn's unborn king, and protect her against those who will do anything to gain power. But what happens when loyalty to family and country conflict? When the forces marshalled in Charyn's war gather and threaten to involve the whole of the land, including Lumatere, only Froi can set things right, with the help of those he loves.

The Silver Dream (Interworld #2) by Mallory Reeves, Michael Reeves & Neil Gaimon
Publisher:  HarperTeen

From Goodreads:  Sixteen-year-old Joey Harker has just saved the Altiverse—the dimension that contains all the myriad Earths—from complete destruction. After mastering the ability to walk between dimensions, Joey and his fellow InterWorld Freedom Fighters are on a mission to maintain peace between the rival powers of magic and science who seek to control all worlds.

When a stranger named Acacia somehow follows Joey back to InterWorld’s Base, things get complicated. No one knows who she is or where she’s from—or how she knows so much about InterWorld. Dangerous times lie ahead, and Joey has no one to rely on but himself and his wits—and, just maybe, the mysterious Acacia Jones.

The Elite (Selection #2) by Kiera Cross
Publisher:  HarperTeen

From Goodreads:  Thirty-five girls came to the palace to compete in the Selection. All but six have been sent home. And only one will get to marry Prince Maxon and be crowned princess of Illea.

America still isn’t sure where her heart lies. When she’s with Maxon, she’s swept up in their new and breathless romance, and can’t dream of being with anyone else. But whenever she sees Aspen standing guard around the palace, and is overcome with memories of the life they planned to share. With the group narrowed down to the Elite, the other girls are even more determined to win Maxon over—and time is running out for America to decide.

Just when America is sure she’s made her choice, a devastating loss makes her question everything again. And while she’s struggling to imagine her future, the violent rebels that are determined to overthrow the monarchy are growing stronger and their plans could destroy her chance at any kind of happy ending.

  Crush (Crash #3) by Nicole Williams
Publisher: Harper Collins

From Goodreads:  Football glory. A giant diamond. A wandering eye.

Jude and Lucy are happily engaged . . . but that doesn't mean life's a bed of roses.

Once again, Jude and Lucy are torn apart by football training and a summer job that creates new tensions. This time Jude's the one with trust issues. Will Lucy's life-changing news bring them back together or end their relationship for good? Can love triumph forever?      

The Rules (Project Paper Doll #1) by Stacey Kade
Publisher:  Disney Hyperion

From Goodreads:  1. Never trust anyone.

2. Remember they are always searching.

3. Don’t get involved.

4. Keep your head down.

5. Don’t fall in love.

Five simple rules. Ariane Tucker has followed them since the night she escaped from the genetics lab where she was created, the result of combining human and extraterrestrial DNA. Ariane’s survival—and that of her adoptive father—depends on her ability to blend in among the full-blooded humans in a small Wisconsin town, to hide in plain sight at her high school from those who seek to recover their lost (and expensive) “project.”

But when a cruel prank at school goes awry, it puts her in the path of Zane Bradshaw, the police chief’s son and someone who sees too much. Someone who really sees her. After years of trying to be invisible, Ariane finds the attention frightening—and utterly intoxicating. Suddenly, nothing is simple anymore, especially not the rules…

   Exile (Mercy #2) by Rebecca Lim
Publisher:  Harper Collins Children's

From Goodreads: There's something very wrong with me. When I wake up, I could be anyone…

An angel in exile, Mercy is doomed to return repeatedly to Earth, taking on a new human form each time she does. Now she "wakes" as unhappy teen Lela, a girl caring for a dying mother but never herself.

As her shattered memory begins to return, Mercy remembers Ryan, the boy she fell in love with in another life, and Luc, the angel haunting her dreams. Will Mercy risk Lela’s life to be reunited with her heart’s true desire?

Spirit's Chosen (Princess of Myth #2) by Esther Freisner
Publisher:     Random House Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads:  Himiko's world is falling apart. An attack by the Ookami clan has left many from her tribe dead or enslaved. And those who remain in the ransacked Matsu village are certain they've angered the gods. Amid the chaos and fear, Himiko hatches a plan to save her beloved tribe. Traveling through the treacherous wilderness with her best friend Kaya, their only goal is to free her clanfolk from the Ookami. At every turn she encounters other tribes and unforeseen challenges. But just when it seems that she will outwit Ryu, the cruel Ookami leader, she is captured. Held agains her will, Himiko starts to realize that not all of the Ookami are her enemies and every step of her unconventional journey has prepared her for something greater than life as a princess. Though she may not see her path as clearly as the spirits seem to, there's more adventure (and even unexpected love) for this young shamaness and warrior. 

Natural Born Angel (Immortal City #2) by Scott Speer
Publisher:  Razorbill

From Goodreads:  Life turned upside down for Maddy Montgomery when she found out she was half-Angel and was catapulted into the scene of flashbulbs, paparazzi, and the fervent adulation that comes with being in the celebrity Angel world. She's trying to juggle her ordinary life—high school, family, friends—with the intense demands of being in the public eye as heartthrob Angel Jackson Godspeed's girlfriend.

And now Maddy must face the most difficult choice of her life. She's been offered the chance to become a Guardian. This means entering into dangerous and high stakes training, with no guarantee that she can succeed. But more than that, it would mean leaving her mortal life behind—forever—and allying with the Angels at a time when their relationship with humans is heading for war. . . .  

manicpixiedreamgirl by Tom Leveen
Publisher:  Random House Children's Books

From Goodreads:  Sometimes the most dramatic scenes in a high school theater club are the ones that happen between the actors and crew off stage.

Seventeen-year-old Tyler Darcy's dream of being a writer is starting to feel very real now that he's sold his first short story to a literary journal. He should be celebrating its publication with his two best friends who've always had his back, but on this night, a steady stream of texts from his girlfriend Sidney keep intruding. So do the memories of his dream girl, Becky, who's been on his mind a little too much since the first day of high school. Before the night is over, Ty might just find the nerve to stop all the obsessing and finally take action.

Obsidian Mirror (Obsidian Mirror #1) by Catherine Fisher
Publisher:  Dial (first published 10/04/12)

From Goodreads:  Jake's father disappears while working on mysterious experiments with the obsessive, reclusive Oberon Venn. Jake is convinced Venn has murdered him. But the truth he finds at the snow-bound Wintercombe Abbey is far stranger ... The experiments concerned a black mirror, which is a portal to both the past and the future. Venn is not alone in wanting to use its powers. Strangers begin gathering in and around Venn's estate: Sarah - a runaway, who appears out of nowhere and is clearly not what she says, Maskelyne - who claims the mirror was stolen from him in some past century. There are others, a product of the mirror's power to twist time. And a tribe of elemental beings surround this isolated estate, fey, cold, untrustworthy, and filled with hate for humans. But of them all, Jake is hell-bent on using the mirror to get to the truth. Whatever the cost, he must learn what really happened to his father.

Chosen at Nightfall (Shadow Falls #5) by C.C. Hunter
Publisher:  St. Martin's Press

From Goodreads:  Kylie Galen's life hasn't been the same since her world was turned upside-down in Born at Midnight, Shadow Falls #1, and now an epic conclusion to her journey—not to mention a tough choice between two guys!—is brewing in Chosen at Nightfall:

When Kylie Galen left Shadow Falls, she thought it was the hardest decision of her life. Heartbroken and separated from everyone she loves, she has to embrace her abilities and what it means to be a chameleon. But as Kylie's journey comes to a close, she must return to the camp that started it all...and she must finally chose between the two boys who love her. The werewolf who broke her heart when he chose his pack over her, and the half-fae who ran from their intense attraction before they ever really had a chance. For Kylie, everything will finally be revealed and nothing will ever be the same. 

The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub

The Talisman by Stephen King & Peter Straub
Publisher: Random House
Publish Date:  1984
Pages: 672
ISBN#978-0375507779


Twelve year old Jack Sawyer's dad died in a supposed hunting accident and his mom is ill - she has cancer.  His dad's business partner and best friend is trying to get Lily (Jack's mom) to sign things over to him and she's refusing.  To escape him, she's taken Jack across the country to a hotel where they're the only guests.  Jack discovers a lot of things about himself, as he's left to his own devices.  He meets Speedy, the handyman and learns what some of his real talents are.

These two authors, together, are able to create a world that make sense and is highly detailed, filled with fabulous characters you never forget.  It's been almost thirty years since this book came out and I read it (Yikes!!), I've read it multiple times and I still have very emotional reactions to it.

Jack - sometimes mature, sometimes a kid, smart, dumb, loving, selfish, he comes off as a real kid

Wolf - all the goodness and loyalty you can imagine in one amazingly large, innocent and protective package

Sunshine Gardner - this is what I imagine to be at the very heart of evil. There isn't anything redeeming here at all

These are just a few of the characters and the ones that touched me the most.  But all the characters are well fleshed out as individuals, with their own motivations and desires.  When the characters didn't continue on to another book for almost twenty years, I was very upset.  But twenty years later, Black House came out and was everything I could have hoped for.

If you aren't a fan of King or Straub, give this book a shot.  It's different, more fairytale-ish with some horro mixed in.  It's not what you really expect out of King if you've read his other books.  Besides, it's my favorite and I'll love you forever if you just give it a shot.  Let me know what you think!

Books Out This Week: April 15-21, 2013

April 16th

Nobody's Secret by Michaela MacColl
Publisher: Chronicle Books

From Goodreads:  One day, fifteen-year-old Emily Dickinson meets a mysterious, handsome young man. Surprisingly, he doesn't seem to know who she or her family is. And even more surprisingly, he playfully refuses to divulge his name. Emily enjoys her secret flirtation with Mr. "Nobody" until he turns up dead in her family's pond. She's stricken with guilt. Only Emily can discover who this enigmatic stranger was before he's condemned to be buried in an anonymous grave. Her investigation takes her deep into town secrets, blossoming romance, and deadly danger. Exquisitely written and meticulously researched, this novel celebrates Emily Dickinson's intellect and spunk in a page-turner of a book that will excite fans of mystery, romance, and poetry alike.

 Game (Jasper Dent #2) by Barry Lyga
Publisher:  Little, Brown Young Readers 

From Goodreads:   When a desperate New York City detective comes knocking on Jazz's door asking for help with a new case, Jazz can't say no. The Hat-Dog Killer has the Big Apple--and its police force running scared with no leads. So Jazz and his girlfriend Connie hop on a plane to the big city and get swept up in a killer's murderous game.

Meanwhile, Jazz's dad Billy is watching...and waiting.

The Grass is Always Greener (Belles #3) by Jen Calonita
Publisher: Poppy

From Goodreads:  How many secrets can one family keep?

Amid preparations for Emerald Cove's extravagant Founders Day celebration and their own shared sweet sixteen, Isabelle Scott and Mirabelle Monroe are longing to break free from the tight constraints that come with being the daughters of a prominent public figure. When Izzie's estranged aunt, Zoe, breezes into town, the already uneasy family dynamic is turned on its head.

Izzie's finally found her footing in Emerald Cove by leading the Social Butterflies, her school's prestigious club, and she has no interest in getting to know yet another long-lost family member. But Mira, who's on a mission to try new things and make new friends, is drawn to Izzie's artsy aunt. And when Mira meets a handsome, brooding painter, her entire perspective on life begins to shift.

As tensions mount in Emerald Cove, Zoe's laid-back attitude appeals to both girls. But when she offers Izzie the chance of a lifetime, it's time to make a tough decision. What's more important: family or freedom?  

Taken (Taken #1) by Erin Bowman
Publisher:  HarperTeen

From Goodreads: 
There are no men in Claysoot. There are boys—but every one of them vanishes at midnight on his eighteenth birthday. The ground shakes, the wind howls, a blinding light descends…and he’s gone.

They call it the Heist.

Gray Weathersby’s eighteenth birthday is mere months away, and he’s prepared to meet his fate–until he finds a strange note from his mother and starts to question everything he’s been raised to accept: the Council leaders and their obvious secrets. The Heist itself. And what lies beyond the Wall that surrounds Claysoot–a structure that no one can cross and survive.

Climbing the Wall is suicide, but what comes after the Heist could be worse. Should he sit back and wait to be taken–or risk everything on the hope of the other side?

 Furious by Jill Wolfson
Publisher:  Henry Holt and Co.

From Goodreads:   Three high school girls become the avenging Furies of Greek legend.

We were only three angry girls, to begin with. Alix, the hot-tempered surfer chick; Stephanie, the tree-hugging activist; and me, Meg, the quiet foster kid, the one who never quite fit in. We hardly knew each other, but each of us nurtured a burning anger: at the jerks in our class, at our disappointing parents, at the whole flawed, unjust world.

We were only three angry girls, simmering uselessly in our ocean-side California town, until one day a mysterious, beautiful classmate named Ambrosia taught us what else we could be: Powerful. Deadly. Furious.

 True (Elixir #3) by Hilary Duff
Publisher:  Simon & Schuster's Childrens Publishing

From Goodreads: 
Following the harrowing events of Elixir and Devoted—and the ceremony that almost killed Sage—Clea faces a new reality: With Sage’s soul in Nico’s body, the love of her life looks an awful lot like her best friend’s boyfriend. Can Clea and Sage really be happy under these circumstances?



Clea wants to try to enjoy their new life together, but Sage is acting different—angry—and she struggles to keep her friends from finding out what has happened to him. Something is clearly haunting Sage, and Clea is losing control. Can she trust her friends with the dangerous truth, or will she have to risk losing Sage to madness?

 The Milk of Birds by Sylvia Whitman
Publisher:  Atheneum Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads: 
Know that there are many words behind the few on this paper...

Fifteen-year-old Nawra lives in Darfur, Sudan, in a camp for refugees displaced by the Janjaweed’s trail of murder and destruction. Nawra cannot read or write, but when a nonprofit organization called Save the Girls pairs her with an American donor, Nawra dictates her thank-you letters. Putting her experiences into words begins to free her from her devastating past—and to brighten the path to her future.

K. C. is an American teenager from Richmond, Virginia, who hates reading and writing—or anything that smacks of school. But as Nawra pours grief and joy into her letters, she inspires K. C. to see beyond her own struggles. And as K. C. opens her heart in her responses to Nawra, she becomes both a dedicated friend and a passionate activist for Darfur.

Dead Silence (Body Finder #4) by Kimberly Derting
Publisher:   HarperCollins

From Goodreads:  Violet thought she’d made peace with her unique ability to sense the echoes of the dead and the imprints that cling to their killers…that is until she acquired an imprint of her own. Forced to carry a reminder of the horrible events of her kidnapping, Violet is more determined than ever to lead a normal life. However, the people who run the special investigative team Violet works for have no intention of letting her go.

When someone close to Violet becomes a suspect in a horrific murder, she finds herself pulled into a deadly hunt for a madman with an army of devoted followers. Violet has survived dangerous situations before, but she quickly discovers that protecting those closest to her is far more difficult than protecting herself.

April 18th

The Symptoms of My Insanity by Mindy Raf
Publisher:  Dial Books for Young Readers

From Goodreads:  When you’re a hypochondriac, there are a million different things that could be wrong with you, but for Izzy, focusing on what could be wrong might be keeping her from dealing with what’s really wrong.

I almost raised my hand, but what would I say? “Mr. Bayer, may I please be excused? I’m not totally positive, but I think I might have cancer.” No way. Then everyone at school would know, and they would treat me differently, and I would be known as “Izzy, that poor girl who diagnosed herself with breast cancer during biology.”

But Izzy’s sense of humor can only get her so far when suddenly her best friend appears to have undergone a personality transplant, her mother’s health takes a turn for the worse, and her beautiful maybe-boyfriend is going all hot and cold. Izzy thinks she’s preparing for the worst-case scenario, but when the worst-case scenario actually hits, it’s a different story altogether—and there’s no tidy list of symptoms to help her through the insanity.   
 

Lauren Oliver novellas

Annabel (Delirium #0.5) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date:  December 26, 2012
ebook
Pages: 50
ISBN# 978-0062237385


The story of Lena's mom goes between when she was a rebellious teen and when she's imprisoned in the Crypts.  I think this gives us vital information on Annabel and shows how strong love can be.  It was amazing how she met her husband!

Hana (Delirium #1.5) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date:  December 19, 2011
ebook
Pages: 65
ISBN# 978-0062124364


Hana seems carefree, happy and rebellious when you see her from Lena's point of view.  When you read Hana's story, it changes.  Hana is scared and confused.  She's definitely rebellious, but she's scared doing it.  Lena didn't know half of what Hana was up to!  The absolute best part?  The very last paragraph.

Raven (Delirium #2.5) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date:  March 5, 2013
ebook
Pages: 50
ISBN# 978-0062267771

This novella also goes between now and then - when Raven escaped to the wilds and now in the resistance.  How she ended up in the Wilds is just crazy! This, to me, was the most emotional story.  Raven keeps everyone on track and never lets on how emotionally fragile she is.  It really didn't help that I read this one AFTER the entire series and so knew what happened to her later.  I think I really did like Raven best.

Requiem (Delirium #3) by Lauren Oliver

Requiem (Delirium #3) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date: March 5, 2013
Pages: 391
ISBN# 978-0062014535


The third book (and last??) of the Delirium series.  Some very interesting turns were taken in this book.


First, the revolution is heating up.  So what do the revolutionaries do?  They plan, and plan, and plan, and plan some more.  Then they argue about it for awhile.  Then they move - this includes packing up camp, trudging through the wilds and then pitching camp - we are treated to the entire process several times.  After it's explained once, we really don't want to sit through it multiple times.

So Alex is back and apparently he's been cured and been imprisoned in the Crypts all this time.  If he's cured, that would explain his coldness.  But it wouldn't explain how empathetic he is to the burned girl, how he wants to fight Julian or how he argues.  What gives?  Why didn't he run up to Lena and hug her?

Lena also became a bit jerky.  There were many times when I felt like she was hugging and loving on Julian just to tick off Alex.  I know they're teenagers, but seriously, I wanted to smack them both.

Poor Julian.  He just can't catch a break.  If those two get it together, he's out completely.

I did really enjoy the two stories - Lena's and Hana's - seeing them together was interesting.  Seeing how Hana deals with being cured and getting married was fabulous.  Perhaps Hana is a bit colder due to being cured, but the cure didn't take, so she has quite an edge on her and is still rebellious.

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver

Pandemonium (Delirium #2) by Lauren Oliver
Publisher: HarperCollins
Publish Date:  February 28, 2012
Pages: 375
ISBN# 978-0061978067


I really enjoyed the THEN and NOW chapters, it was a great choice.  I was sad, however, to see the love triangle pop up.  I totally get that Lena and Julian went through some crap together and survivors often end up clinging to one another. 

Lena seemed to grow up and even toughen up during this book, I think Raven helped a lot with that.  I was a little surprised that Lena didn't try to stick around to see if Alex was really dead or she just thought he was dead, but I get that she panicked...but she ran so darned far!

Raven and Tack's relationship really interested me.  They are both stingy with information about themselves and everyone knows they're a couple, but no one says it.  I'd love to know more about the two of them.

By the way, why do people think that Tack is Julian's brother?  I couldn't figure out how that would have come about, I mean Julian said that his brother died in their house and the age difference didn't seem to add up for Tack to be his brother.  Or maybe people are thinking that Julian just said he died because that's what he was told?  I don't believe that their dad would have let his son go into the wild.  Hmmmmm.

Books Out This Week: April 1 - April 7, 2013

April 1st

Awakening (Tankborn #2) by Karen Sandler
Publisher:  Tu Books
From Goodreads:  Once a GEN (genetically engineered nonhuman) girl terrified of her first Assignment, Kayla is now a member of the Kinship, a secret organization of GENs, lowborns, and trueborns. Kayla travels on Kinship business, collecting information to further the cause of GEN freedom.

Despite Kayla’s relative freedom, she is still a slave to the trueborn ruling class. She rarely sees trueborn Devak, and any relationship between them is still strictly forbidden.

Kayla longs to be truly free, but other priorities have gotten in the way. A paradoxically deadly new virus has swept through GEN sectors—a disease only GENs catch. And GEN warrens and warehouses are being bombed, with only a scrawled clue: F.H.E. Freedom, Humanity, Equality.

With the virus and the bombings decimating the GEN community, freedom and love are put on the back burner as Kayla and her friends find a way to stop the killing . . . before it’s too late.

 Pretty Ugly (Bluford #18) Karyn Langhorne Folan
Publisher:   Townsend Press
From Goodreads:  A freshman at Bluford High, Jamee never expected Vanessa Pierce and her friends to go this far. The trouble starts at cheerleading practice when Vanessa begins teasing Angel McCallister, a shy new girl at school. When the insults turn nasty, Jamee tries to stop them. She wins Angel's friendship but makes many enemies. Now Jamee is a target, and someone is texting lies and pictures of her all over school. Unwilling to tell her family or snitch on her fellow cheerleaders, Jamee is cornered. Will her next move solve her problems---or make them worse?

That Time I Joined the Circus by J.J. Howard
Publisher:  Point
From Goodreads:  Lexi Ryan just ran away to join the circus, but not on purpose.

A music-obsessed, slightly snarky New York City girl, Lexi is on her own. After making a huge mistake--and facing a terrible tragedy--Lexi has no choice but to track down her long-absent mother. Rumor has it that Lexi's mom is somewhere in Florida with a traveling circus.

When Lexi arrives at her new, three-ring reality, her mom isn't there . . . but her destiny might be. Surrounded by tigers, elephants, and trapeze artists, Lexi finds some surprising friends and an even more surprising chance at true love. She even lucks into a spot as the circus's fortune teller, reading tarot cards and making predictions.

But then Lexi's ex-best friend from home shows up, and suddenly it's Lexi's own future that's thrown into question.
  

Money Run (Ashley Arthur #1) Jack Heath
Publisher:   Pan MacMillan Australia
From Goodreads:  Take two child geniuses (thieves in their spare time), one obsessed assassin, and the richest man in the world to create a compelling, completely unpredictable young adult thriller. Fifteen-year-olds Ashley and Benjamin have concocted a daring master plan: to steal billionaire Hammond Buckland's most precious belonging, hidden in the depths of his conspicuous corporate building. But Hammond Buckland has a most elaborate plan of his own - and none of them have counted on Peachey, the hit man with a determination to finish the job - at any cost!

A Corner of White (The Colors of Madeleine #1) Jaclyn Moriarty
Publisher:  Pan MacMillan Australia
From Goodreads:   Madeleine Tully lives in Cambridge, England, the World – a city of spires, Isaac Newton and Auntie’s Tea Shop.

Elliot Baranski lives in Bonfire, the Farms, the Kingdom of Cello – where seasons roam, the Butterfly Child sleeps in a glass jar, and bells warn of attacks from dangerous Colours.

They are worlds apart – until a crack opens up between them; a corner of white – the slim seam of a letter.

A mesmerising story of two worlds; the cracks between them, the science that binds them and the colours that infuse them.

April 2nd

 This is What Happy Looks Like by Jennifer E. Smith
Publisher:  Poppy
From Goodreads:  When teenage movie star Graham Larkin accidentally sends small town girl Ellie O'Neill an email about his pet pig, the two seventeen-year-olds strike up a witty and unforgettable correspondence, discussing everything under the sun, except for their names or backgrounds.

Then Graham finds out that Ellie's Maine hometown is the perfect location for his latest film, and he decides to take their relationship from online to in-person. But can a star as famous as Graham really start a relationship with an ordinary girl like Ellie? And why does Ellie want to avoid the media's spotlight at all costs? 

 In the Shadow of Blackbirds by Cat Winters
Publisher:  Amulet Books
From Goodreads:  In 1918, the world seems on the verge of apocalypse. Americans roam the streets in gauze masks to ward off the deadly Spanish influenza, and the government ships young men to the front lines of a brutal war, creating an atmosphere of fear and confusion. Sixteen-year-old Mary Shelley Black watches as desperate mourners flock to séances and spirit photographers for comfort, but she herself has never believed in ghosts. During her bleakest moment, however, she’s forced to rethink her entire way of looking at life and death, for her first love—a boy who died in battle—returns in spirit form. But what does he want from her?  

 Fearless (Reckless  #2) by Cornelia Funke
Publisher:   Chicken House
From Goodreads:  After saving his brother, Jacob Reckless faces death from the fairy's curse burnt into his heart. In search of a cure, he returns to the Mirrorworld where he is reunited with Fox, a beautiful shape-shifting girl. He has one more chance: a golden crossbow with the power to save and destroy life, buried in a dead king's tomb, beneath an invisible palace. Jacob must cross continents,face monsters and men, including a dangerous rival, and learn what it means to stay alive.

The collector (Dante Walker #1) by Victoria Scott
Publisher:  Entangled Teen
From Goodreads:  He makes good girls...bad.

Dante Walker is flippin’ awesome, and he knows it. His good looks, killer charm, and stellar confidence have made him one of hell’s best—a soul collector. His job is simple: weed through humanity and label those round rears with a big red good or bad stamp. Old Saint Nick gets the good guys, and he gets the fun ones. Bag-and-tag.

Sealing souls is nothing personal. Dante’s an equal-opportunity collector and doesn't want it any other way. But he’ll have to adjust, because Boss Man has given him a new assignment:

Collect Charlie Cooper’s soul within ten days.

Dante doesn't know why Boss Man wants Charlie, nor does he care. This assignment means only one thing to him, and that’s a permanent ticket out of hell. But after Dante meets the quirky Nerd Alert chick he’s come to collect, he realizes this assignment will test his abilities as a collector…and uncover emotions deeply buried.

Rise (Eve #3) by Anna Carey
Publisher:  Harper Collins
From Goodreads:  How far will you go when you have nothing left to lose?

When she lost her soul mate, Caleb, Eve felt like her world had ended. Trapped in the palace, forced to play the part of the happy, patriotic princess of The New America—and the blushing bride of her father's top adviser—Eve's whole life is a lie. The only thing that keeps her going is Caleb's memory, and the revolution he started.

Now, Eve is taking over where Caleb left off. With the help of Moss, an undercover subversive in the King's court, she plots to take down The New America, beginning with the capital, the City of Sand. Will Eve be able to bring about a new, free world when she's called upon to perform the ultimate act of rebellion—killing her father?

Stung by Bethany Wiggins
Publisher:  Walker Childrens
From Goodreads:  There is no cure for being stung.

Fiona doesn’t remember going to sleep. But when she opens her eyes, she discovers her entire world has been altered—her house is abandoned and broken, and the entire neighborhood is barren and dead. Even stranger is the tattoo on her right hand—a black oval with five marks on either side—that she doesn’t remember getting but somehow knows she must cover at any cost. She’s right.

Those bearing the tattoo have turned into mindless, violent beasts that roam the streets and sewers, preying upon the unbranded while a select few live protected inside a fortress-like wall, their lives devoted to rebuilding society and killing all who bear the mark.

Now Fiona has awakened branded, alone—and on the wrong side of the wall.

Sacrifices (Shadow Grail #3) by Rosemary Edghill and Mercedes Lackey
Publisher:  Tor
From Goodreads:  The students of Oakhurst Academy believe they have triumphed over the Shadow Knights. But Spirit, Burke, Muirin, Loch, and Addie know better. Under the guise of a company called Breakthrough Adventure Systems, the Shadow Knights have actually taken over the campus. The new regime is brutal, designed to turn the students into soldiers wielding both weapons and magic. Anyone who protests disappears.

Desperate, the group decides that Muirin should go undercover to spy on Breakthrough. But Muirin’s act is a little too good, and Spirit begins to fear that her friend’s loyalties might have truly changed. Surrounded by enemies and friends who suddenly seem like strangers, Spirit has decide who can—and cannot—be trusted.

Light (Gone #6) by Michael Grant
Publisher:  Katherine Teagen Books
From Goodreads:  In the time since every person over the age of fourteen disappeared from the town of Perdido Beach, California, countless battles have been fought: battles against hunger and lies and plague, and epic battles of good against evil. And now, the gaiaphage has been reborn as Diana's malicious mutant daughter, Gaia. Gaia is endlessly hungry for destruction. She yearns to conquer her Nemesis, Little Pete, and then bend the entire world to her warped will. As long-standing enemies become allies, secrets are revealed and unexpected sacrifices are made. Will their attempts to save themselves and one another matter in the end, or will the kids of Perdido Beach perish in this final power struggle?  

Vengenace Bound by Justina Ireland
Publisher:  Simon and Schuster Books for Young Readers
From Goodreads:  Cory Graff is not alone in her head. Bound to a deal of desperation made when she was a child, Cory’s mind houses the Furies—the hawk and the serpent—lingering always, waiting for her to satisfy their bloodlust. After escaping the asylum where she was trapped for years, Cory knows how to keep the Furies quiet. By day, she lives a normal life, but by night, she tracks down targets the Furies send her way. And she brings down Justice upon them.

Cory’s perfected her system of survival, but when she meets a mysterious boy named Niko at her new school, she can’t figure out how she feels about him. For the first time, the Furies are quiet in her head around a guy. But does this mean that Cory’s finally found someone who she can trust, or are there greater factors at work? As Cory’s mind becomes a battlefield, with the Furies fighting for control, Cory will have to put everything on the line to hold on to what she’s worked so hard to build.

The Rising (Darkness Rising #3) by Kelley Armstrong
Publisher:  Harper Collins
From Goodreads:  Things are getting desperate for Maya and her friends. Hunted by the powerful St. Clouds and now a rival Cabal as well, they're quickly running out of places to hide. And with the whole world thinking they died in a helicopter crash, it's not like they can just go to the authorities for help.

All they have is the name and number of someone who might be able to give them a few answers. Answers to why they're so valuable, and why their supernatural powers are getting more and more out of control.

But Maya is unprepared for the truths that await her. And now, like it or not, she'll have to face down some demons from her past if she ever hopes to move on with her life. Because Maya can't keep running forever.

My Life After Now by Jessica Verdi
Publisher:  Sourcebooks Fire
From Goodreads:  Lucy just had the worst week ever. Seriously, mega bad. And suddenly, it's all too much—she wants out. Out of her house, out of her head, out of her life. She wants to be a whole new Lucy. So she does something the old Lucy would never dream of.

And now her life will never be the same. Now, how will she be able to have a boyfriend? What will she tell her friends? How will she face her family?

Now her life is completely different...every moment is a gift. Because now she might not have many moments left.


April 3rd

Unbreakable (Unraveling #2) by Elizabeth Norris
Publisher:  Balzer + Bray
From Goodreads:  Four months after Ben disappeared through the portal to his home universe, Janelle believes she’ll never see him again. Her world is still devastated, but life is finally starting to resume some kind of normalcy. Until Interverse Agent Taylor Barclay shows up. Somebody from an alternate universe is running a human trafficking ring, kidnapping people and selling them on different Earths—and Ben is the prime suspect. Now his family has been imprisoned and will be executed if Ben doesn’t turn himself over within five days.

And when Janelle learns that someone she cares about—someone from her own world—has become one of the missing, she knows that she has to help Barclay, regardless of the danger. Now Janelle has five days to track down the real culprit. Five days to locate the missing people before they’re lost forever. Five days to reunite with the boy who stole her heart. But as the clues begin to add up, Janelle realizes that she’s in way over her head—and that she may not have known Ben as well as she thought. Can she uncover the truth before everyone she cares about is killed?

April 4th

White Lines by Jennifer Banash
Publisher:  Putnam Juvenile
From Goodreads:  A gritty, atmospheric coming of age tale set in 1980s New York City.

Seventeen-year-old Cat is living every teenager’s dream: she has her own apartment on the Lower East Side and at night she’s club kid royalty, guarding the velvet rope at some of the hottest clubs in the city. The night with its crazy, frenetic, high-inducing energy—the pulsing beat of the music, the radiant, joyful people and those seductive white lines that can ease all pain—is when Cat truly lives. But her daytime, when real life occurs, is more nightmare than dream. Having spent years suffering her mother’s emotional and physical abuse, and abandoned by her father, Cat is terrified and alone—unable to connect to anyone or anything. But when someone comes along who makes her want to truly live, she’ll need to summon the courage to confront her demons and take control of a life already spinning dangerously out of control.   

Nameless (Tales of Beauty & Madness #1) by Lili St. Crow
Publisher:  Razorbill
From Goodreads:   When Camille was six years old, she was discovered alone in the snow by Enrico Vultusino, godfather of the Seven—the powerful Families that rule magic-ridden New Haven. Papa Vultusino adopted the mute, scarred child, naming her after his dead wife and raising her in luxury on Haven Hill alongside his own son, Nico.

Now Cami is turning sixteen. She’s no longer mute, though she keeps her faded scars hidden under her school uniform, and though she opens up only to her two best friends, Ruby and Ellie, and to Nico, who has become more than a brother to her. But even though Cami is a pampered Vultusino heiress, she knows that she is not really Family. Unlike them, she is a mortal with a past that lies buried in trauma. And it’s not until she meets the mysterious Tor, who reveals scars of his own, that Cami begins to uncover the secrets of her birth…to find out where she comes from and why her past is threatening her now.